On November 10th, Erinn van Wynsberghe, Eng Phys ’14, was awarded gold at the Innovation Factory’s “Innovation Night” – an event for visionaries and entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to Hamilton’s innovation community. Van Wynsberghe was presented with the “Best Business Idea” award following the presentation of his current start-up project: a high-altitude balloon that, because of its propulsion and energy design, can remain suspended in one spot in the sky for extended periods of time. The project is still in the development phase and has garnered the participation of several departments at McMaster, including (and most notably) Eng Phys.

The project has received positive feedback, including the second place title at the McMaster Falling Walls competition back in August.

Innovation Night, hosted at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, is open to the public. Attendees can observe up to 15 two-minute presentations, meet the innovators, and network.